Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.N., C.N.S., C.B.T., is a board-certified cardiologist, certified bioenergetic psychotherapist, and certified nutrition and anti-aging specialist. He has lectured and facilitated workshops worldwide and has authored several publications and medical periodicals. He has been a featured guest on many national radio and television shows including CNN, MSNBC, Fox on Health, the Dr. Oz, The Doctors, and 700 Club shows, and The Today Show.

Roundup for Breakfast?

GMO, of course, is short for genetically modified organisms. They’ve exploded in recent years, as regulatory agencies have allowed more and more of them into our foods and grocery stores.

So far, most GMO foods have had their genetic material manipulated to make them more able to withstand herbicides—the most common one being Roundup. The changes allow the plants to be sprayed more often and not die, while the weeds around them do.

I’ve been talking about the dangers of GMOs for a while, including exposure to this dangerous pesticide. But a recent report from the Detox Project and Food Democracy Now! highlights just how prevalent the problem has become.

It’s scary stuff—and if you think it doesn’t affect you, you’re in for a surprise…

The Dangers of Glyphosate and Roundup

You’ve probably heard of the herbicide Roundup. It’s sold at most hardware and gardening stores and you may even keep some in your garage or toolshed, to kill weeds around your house (though I hope not).

It’s also sprayed in mass quantities on crops grown at non-organic farms.

The primary ingredient in Roundup is an extremely toxic chemical called glyphosate. Research has shown that glyphosate may disrupt sex hormones, causing fertility problems and miscarriages. It’s also been linked with potential heart and neurological problems.

One study, in particular, found that a daily dose of glyphosate could change the brain of a rat in just six days. Specifically, it altered how a number of neurotransmitters work, including serotonin—which affects mood, appetite, sleep, and memory. The more glyphosate the rats were exposed to, the worse the effects were.

Another study found that glyphosate can also alter the microbiomes of plants and, potentially, those of animals and people, too.

Researchers noted that even ultra-low doses of glyphosate can accumulate and raise the possibility of negative health effects over time. Relative to the microbiome, they wrote, “Shifts in microbial compositions due to selective pressure by glyphosate may have contributed to the proliferation of plant and animal pathogens…we hypothesize that the selection pressure for glyphosate-resistance in bacteria could lead to shifts in microbiome composition and increases in antibiotic resistance…”

In other words, altering plant DNA to withstand more glyphosate use—and then actually using more of it—could cause the natural balance between good and bad bacteria to slip, strengthening the bad bugs to a point where we can’t control them.

Sounds scary, right? Well, here’s something even more frightening.

In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer declared glyphosate a “probable human carcinogen.” Monsanto (Roundup’s manufacturer) and most U.S. government agencies, however, claim there’s no evidence of any harmful effects.

Food Labels May Understate Glyphosate Risk

All of this is particularly concerning because the United States is the world’s top grower of GMO crops, mostly sugar beets, soy, canola, and corn. Considering those are ingredients in almost every single processed food on the market—and most Americans eat processed foods fairly regularly—you can imagine the hefty helping of GMOs and glyphosate on most dinner plates.

The obvious answer to this would be to avoid GMO foods. But as this report points out, even foods marketed as non-GMO may still contain glyphosate.

Case in point: Cheerios.

On their website, Cheerios states that they don’t use GMO oats to make their cereal. Still, it was found to have 1,125.3 parts per billion (ppb) of glyphosate. In second place for this dubious honor is Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips—labeled non-GMO—which registered at 812.53 ppb.

To put this in perspective, glyphosate or glyphosate residues of only 0.05 ppb can cause damage to at least 4,000 different genes, while 10 ppb can impact your kidneys and liver. Now think about how many mothers give their babies Cheerios as a snack, or pour it for their kids before school.

I don’t know about you, but I see an enormous problem there!

But Wait…Glyphosate Also Affects the Entire Food Chain

Glyphosate’s impact doesn’t end with the foods made from it.

A significant percentage of GMO crops (up to 70 percent of soy and 40 percent of corn) also go into animal feed. This means the cattle, poultry, and even fish that eat this glyphosate-laced feed eventually end up adding to our glyphosate load.

Another case in point: Not too long ago, reports came out that glyphosate was discovered in Ben and Jerry’s ice cream because the cows ate crops sprayed with Roundup.

Then there’s our water supply. Public drinking water is also contaminated with glyphosate, thanks to agricultural runoff. It’s even in our air.

I’m not going to lie—glyphosate has become so pervasive that it’s largely unavoidable at this point. That means we all have to do the next best thing, which is take steps to limit exposure as best we can.

How to Limit Your Glyphosate Exposure

This report really underscores the dire need to make eating organic food a priority, to the extent that you can afford it. Not just for produce, but for dairy, meat, and eggs, too.

Beef and pork, in particular, should be grass fed and grass finished. That means the animals have eaten only grass throughout their lives and weren’t “plumped up” before slaughter with grains or other GMO feed.

With produce, choose organic at the store or buy directly from a local organic farm that you trust. Some fruits and veggies tend to have more pesticide residue than others, so make sure you get familiar with the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean 15. These lists identify which foods are best to buy organic and which are safe to buy conventional (in case you can’t afford to go 100 percent organic).

I also advise against consuming highly processed foods as much as possible. These are junk food items that contain corn, canola oil, sugar, and other ingredients that are most likely GMO.

As far as healthier prepackaged foods go—pastas and sauces, for example—strive for sources that are both non-GMO and organic. As the Cheerios scenario illustrates, just looking for a non-GMO label may not be enough. By definition, “organic” means no GMOs and no synthetic pesticides, so there’s a better chance you’ll get clean food.

Finally, filter your drinking water using reverse osmosis filtration, and use an air purifier in your home.

I strongly believe that doing these things offers you the best chance to stay as safe as possible from the many threats of GMOs and glyphosate.

Leave a Reply

Linda HH

on December 9, 2017 at 8:43 am

I have studied-taught human nutrition for 50 years. This is an excellent article on the subject. Keep up the good work! It’s well-written, friendly, science documented, and essential that we understand what we CAN do for our bodies on this over-whelming chemical exposure. Linda HH.

Carol Kauffman

on January 25, 2018 at 12:35 pm

Stress is bad for you, too, right? And right now I’m freaking out about eating Cheerios (my favorite cereal) and worst of all using it as a “go to” snack for my grandbabies. I feel like I should be arrested for child abuse- no, seriously! I feel so bad to have done this! Can anyone provide a list of the safest snacks for children? Ones they will like to eat, that is. I hate the thought their pristine little systems are already being tainted. Help!

Beverly Ann Stevens

on January 25, 2018 at 12:49 pm

Dear Dr Sinatra, Your heartfelt concern in our welfare is greatly appreciated! I still do not understand how Monsanto has been allowed to poison seed, poison our soil, poison our sources of water, poison the unborn & our human existence, & poison the most common plants that are used in making bread & other prepackaged foods! THIS WORTH REPEATING BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE IS AWARE OF DANGER OF THEIR FISH, POULTRY, BEEF & MANY PREPARED FOODS & FAST FOODS/RESTAURANT FOODS.

Sandra Bush

on January 25, 2018 at 1:12 pm

WE need to have an all out Storm the Bastille on the Food and Drug Adm for poisoning us in so many ways. Just FIRE them as they collude with Monsanto and drug companies and do not protect us the way Europe protects their citizens. They protect big interest groups not us. Arrest them now Pres Trump. Fire the USDA and the FDA. Fine the pants off Monsanto and Bayer and send them to Guantanamo Bay.

arnie Fiergang

on January 25, 2018 at 5:38 pm

How has Monsanto been able to continue making and selling this highly toxic substance? Follow the decades long money trail leading to our greedy, corrupt government. Political parties on both sides take money and do “favors” for those that “contribute”.

Beverly Ann Stevens can not understand how Monsanto has been allowed to poison . . . . There are over 7,000 registered Lobbyists in Washington, DC. All with influence and money. Plus former Monsanto Executives are in Government positions deciding that Roundup / Glyphosate is good for you! Profits before Health!

Heather Carey

on January 29, 2018 at 7:34 pm

Cheerios – read how much sugar is in these – my son from when he was a toddler has organic frozen berries for treats and had no sugar or sweets. He doesnt like sweet things much now. Do your children a favour by giving them fruit or see weed crackers for treats. How about a banana at the park no sweet cookies, sweets or cake. Love your children by giving them healthy treats every time. They will love them too. All the best .